We've Got Gas!

But nevermind that. The real question is whether the house does. 

We've been without since we left for Minnesota. After returning, there's been no need so far.  It's in AC mode right now, and we're months away from thinking about turning on the furnace. As for heating water, all we need to do for hot water is turn on the "cold" tap. The pipe runs through the attic, and unless changed, comes through at a quite adequate temperature for showers, dishes, and, well, laundry is done at "cold" though it never is cold. If we wish cooler water, we turn on the "hot" taps, since the water heater sits in AC and cools down to 81 degrees. If we want drinking-cool water, we use the dispenser on the fridge door. As for cooking, I nuke almost everything and Steve's not down yet to cook on the stove or in the oven. 

Today the gas company is here to check everything before turning on the supply at the meter. It's never been a problem before. Today, not so good. First, there is some heat damage in the top back of the oven. It needs to be left un-gassed until replacement. Problem today is there's a valve up high in the back that needs to be shut off and nobody could reach it. The whole house had to be without gas if that valve couldn't be turned, allowing no leaks. Rich had a solution. A shelf under the oven - it's a wall mount - needed to be demolished. It's about 2" below the oven itself, and one needs to reach through that to the back and then up (yeah, sure!) to turn off that valve. Rich, with permission, demolished that shelf. It was only good for holding a couple cords or flat tray or something anyway. So that part was fixed, in the sense of being able to separate it from the gas supply. A yellow tag is wired to the oven door handle reminding everybody it can't be used. It also alibis the gas guys in case we get stupid.

Somebody's going shopping later.

Then there's the fireplace in the lanai. We never use it. Never. It gets checked out each year that the gas company folks come and turn gas back on once we return. Of course last year nobody left, so it's been two now. It's not working. This one was easier to disconnect. Whoever wishes to use it in the future has some expense ahead of them. Won't be us, not if I have a say, at least until we are ready to sell the house. It'll be disclosed to whatever realtor we contact then if not fixed. Somebody will need a plumber and a part or so. Every once in a blue moon Steve thinks it'd be great to turn it on and sit in front of the fire. Now that Rich is there, we're not going to be sitting in front of that particular fire. Besides, we get lots of bonfires in the back yard in Minnesota, the kind with the smell of wood smoke and roasting brats and s'mores and good company. And free! That's enough for me.

The drier is just fine, and laundry has been piling up, waiting for it. Last is the furnace, up on the roof. It's sitting there in the same big metal box that the AC is in, the one (two?) we replaced a few years ago. Checking it out means pumping heat into the house. But hey, it hasn't quite reached today's high of 106 (it's cloudy) either outside or in. And the AC kicks back on quickly.

Usually these visits take about half an hour. Today it's been two. Plus we had two technicians. It's training day, so I hear a lot of the conversations between both men, and one side of the phone conversations as they check with HQ whether, once a problem area is cut off safely, the rest of the gas is good to be turned on. Verdict after all of this is we're good to go. With two isolated exceptions of course

The cost of these visits is supposed to be a standard $30, added to our next bill. I've been assured the extra time and work doesn't change the cost. The reason they come out is exactly what they did today, making sure there are no leaks, no dangers of fires or explosions. (No loss of customers!) That's been done.

Verdict after all of this is we're good to go. With two isolated exceptions, of course. We've got gas!